Croydon
High household incomes and an established inner-west profile shape Croydon more than a growth-frontier narrative. It has 10,755 residents across 2.44 sq km, a median age of 42, or 2 years above the national figure, and household income at the 82.1st percentile. Overseas-born residents comprise 42.9%, 21.3 percentage points above national, while Chinese ancestry is recorded for 2,496 people. Compared with nearby Burwood, Croydon reads as a quieter, lower-density residential market, with 54.9% separate houses. Professionals number 1,819 and university attainment is 55.9%, 25.8 points higher than national, reinforcing its established-wealth profile.
Population
10,755
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,157/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
89
Croydon suits buyers who value established housing and a relatively high-income base over a uniform apartment market. Separate houses account for 54.9%, semi-detached homes 17.2% and apartments 27.0%, while 3-bedroom dwellings make up 33.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.5%. That mix supports both family and downsizer searches because dwelling formats are spread across the suburb. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,700, and mortgage payments equal 28.9% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Compared with lower-income markets, Croydon's household income at the 82.1st percentile gives buyers stronger earning capacity, although deposit size and dwelling condition still matter.
For Buyers
Croydon suits buyers who value established housing and a relatively high-income base over a uniform apartment market. Separate houses account for 54.9%, semi-detached homes 17.2% and apartments 27.0%, while 3-bedroom dwellings make up 33.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes 29.5%. That mix supports both family and downsizer searches because dwelling formats are spread across the suburb. The monthly mortgage figure is $2,700, and mortgage payments equal 28.9% of household income, with no mortgage-stress flag. Compared with lower-income markets, Croydon's household income at the 82.1st percentile gives buyers stronger earning capacity, although deposit size and dwelling condition still matter.
For Investors
Croydon has a meaningful renter base, with 29.8% of occupied dwellings rented and weekly rent recorded at $480. Vacancy is 5.8%, so investors should test leasing assumptions rather than rely on scarcity alone. Development activity is notable at 94 applications in 12 months, including examples for 1 dwelling and 2 attached dwellings, which can gradually add competition as well as supply. The annual growth trend is 1.25% and overseas migration is the primary driver, supporting demand through population turnover. Compared with owner-dominated suburbs, Croydon's renter share and established employment base create a broader tenant pool, but returns should be checked against purchase costs and future construction.
Development Activity
Total DAs
450
Last 12 Months
89
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-11.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Croydon
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Demographics
Croydon's demographic profile is older, highly educated and strongly shaped by migration. Median age is 42, 2 years above the national figure, while university attainment is 55.9%, 25.8 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 42.9%, 21.3 points higher than national, with Chinese ancestry numbering 2,496, followed by English 1,860 and Italian 1,057. Mandarin is spoken by 556 residents and Canton by 271, alongside Italian 221 and Arabic 213. Couples with children represent 49.7% of families, while couples without children are 33.9%. Compared with the broader national profile, this combination points to a settled, skilled and culturally varied suburb because education, migration and family households all carry substantial weight.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
54.9%
Houses
17.2%
Townhouse
27.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Croydon's housing stock is mixed but still anchored by conventional homes. Separate houses make up 54.9%, apartments 27.0% and semi-detached dwellings 17.2%. Tenure is split between 35.0% owned outright, 31.8% with a mortgage and 29.8% rented, indicating a substantial owner base alongside active rental demand. Bedrooms are concentrated in 3-bedroom homes at 33.8% and 4-plus-bedroom homes at 29.5%, while 2-bedroom dwellings account for 28.9%. With 10,755 residents in 2.44 sq km, density reaches 4,416.1 people per sq km. Compared with more apartment-oriented Burwood, Croydon retains greater house-based choice, which helps explain its appeal to families and longer-term owners.
Mortgage / mo
$2,700
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (April to June 2026), NSW Rental Bond Board (DCJ). Census 2021 median: $480.
$780
Bond data Jun 2026 · houses $938 · units $685
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$835
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.8%
Unoccupied
226
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
49.7%
Couples with children
33.9%
Couples, no children
14.9%
Single parent
2,847
Total families
Economy & Employment
Croydon's employment base leans toward knowledge and public-serving industries. Healthcare accounts for 14.8% of workers, Professional and Technical services 14.0%, Education 13.3%, Finance 9.9% and Public Administration 7.0%. The occupation mix reinforces that pattern: 1,819 Professionals and 781 Managers sit ahead of 728 Clerical and Administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 57.8%, unemployment 4.7% and full-time employment 58.9%, while household income ranks at the 82.1st percentile. SEIFA results are uneven but favourable: IEO decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8 are higher than IRSD decile 6 and IER decile 6, suggesting strong education and advantage alongside more mid-range economic-resources results. This supports a resilient local market because skilled employment and income capacity are relatively strong.
Unemployment
4.7%
Labour Force
5,238
Unemployed
245
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
29.3%
Participation
57.8%
Employed
4,993
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.9%
Postgraduate
18.1%
Born Overseas
42.9%
Dwellings
3,699
Transport to Work
Croydon's compact 2.44 sq km footprint supports a neighbourhood-focused lifestyle, but commuting patterns are unusually home-based: 55.5% work from home, compared with 6.2% using public transport, 32.5% driving and 3.3% walking or cycling. That split means buyers should assess the exact street, parking and daily service access rather than assume rail dependence is low or high. School access includes 2 nearby government options spanning primary and secondary education, with enrolment zones worth checking against the address. Socioeconomic advantage is above lower deciles, with IRSAD at decile 8 and IEO at decile 9, while IRSD and IER are both decile 6. Compared with lower-density outer suburbs, Croydon's 4,416.1 people per sq km makes proximity and local amenity more consequential.
Drive
32.5%
Public Transport
6.2%
Walk / Cycle
3.3%
Work from Home
55.5%
Population Forecast
+1.25%/yr
(+187 people/yr)
EstablishedCroydon's outlook is steady rather than a rapid transformation story. The annual trend is 1.25%, with overseas migration named as the primary growth driver, while population change across the wider area is 24.1% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Mixed: rents have grown 35.3%, real incomes 16.0%, the young share has risen 0.9 points and the senior share 1.3 points, while the working share has fallen 1.0 point. Gentrification signals remain restrained at score 9 and stage Not gentrifying, while the broader shift assessment is 34, labelled Early signs. Compared with high-intensity renewal markets, this points to gradual change because migration and established demand are building pressure without a strong gentrification classification.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+159
Net Internal / yr
-2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +27% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Croydon compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Croydon a good suburb to live in?
Croydon can suit households seeking an established inner-west setting, family housing and strong professional incomes. It has 10,755 residents, a median age of 42 and 55.5% working from home. The 54.9% separate-house share and IRSAD decile 8 support a settled profile, while buyers should still compare streets, parking and school zones.
What is the median house price in Croydon?
Croydon's median house price should be checked against current sales because the housing mix is broad. Separate houses account for 54.9%, semi-detached homes 17.2% and apartments 27.0%; 3-bedroom dwellings are 33.8% of stock. A suburb-wide median can therefore vary substantially by dwelling type, land size and condition.
What schools are in Croydon?
Croydon Public School is a government primary school, and Burwood Girls High School is a government secondary school in the local area. There are 2 government school options locally. Check the exact enrolment zone and current intake rules, since a nearby address does not automatically guarantee placement.
Is Croydon safe?
Safety should be checked using current NSW Police and council information for the exact address, because conditions can vary across 2.44 sq km. Croydon has 10,755 residents and a density of 4,416.1 people per sq km, so local traffic, evening activity and street layout matter. Do not rely on a general suburb impression when comparing properties.
Is Croydon good for property investment?
Croydon can work for investors who are comfortable balancing established demand with moderate supply. Rented dwellings account for 29.8%, weekly rent is $480 and vacancy is 5.8%. There were 94 development applications in 12 months, while the annual growth trend is 1.25% and overseas migration is the main driver. Compare expected yield, maintenance and future competition before buying.
How is Croydon's population changing?
Croydon has 10,755 residents today. The wider-area forecast records annual growth of 1.25% and population change of 24.1% over 10 years, with overseas migration the primary driver. Its trajectory is Mixed rather than uniformly accelerating, and the gentrification stage is Not gentrifying with a score of 9. This points to gradual change rather than a sharp shift.
What languages are spoken in Croydon?
English, Mandarin, Canton, Italian, Arabic and Greek are among the main languages used locally. Mandarin is recorded for 556 residents, Canton for 271, Italian for 221, Arabic for 213 and Greek for 152. The overseas-born share is 42.9%, which is above the national figure by 21.3 percentage points, so language access can matter when choosing services and schools.
What development is occurring in Croydon?
There were 94 development applications in 12 months, including a dwelling house proposal for 1 dwelling and an attached dual-occupancy proposal for 2 dwellings. Recent examples point to ongoing small-scale additions rather than a single large project. Buyers should check approvals, construction timing and local traffic impacts before committing.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Croydon on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map